NMRT (New Members Round Table)

Happy March NMRT Members!

Each month, the NMRT Online Programs Committee shares a discussion topic to help our members connect in meaningful and fun ways. 

As the saying goes, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." In the library world, that "preparation" is often the data we collect (or miss out on collecting!) every day. But when you successfully advocate for a new project, a new hire, a budget increase, or a new collection, was it just the "luck of the Irish"-or was it the way you told the story? 

We are often told to "collect stats," but we aren't always taught how to turn those numbers into a narrative that moves stakeholders. This month, we want to hear how you or your mentors are moving beyond the spreadsheet. 

Let's swap notes! We invite you to share any or all of the following:

• Have you used a specific data point to successfully advocate for a change or support?

• What are you using to track or visualize your impact? (Are you a Canva wizard? An Excel enthusiast? Or do you prefer physical data like "data walls"?)

• What is the one thing you wish you could prove with data but aren't sure how to capture?

Whatever type of library you hail from and role you serve, your data has a story to tell. Let's help each other find out how to use strategy to sway Lady Luck our way!

More Resources & Save the Date!

• Check out Kate McDowell's Critical Data Storytelling for Libraries for a deep look at crafting ethical, impactful narratives for library advocacy.
• Save the date and plan to join NMRT's Online Programs Committee on Thursday, April 16th at 2:00 PM CST for our NMRT spring webinar: "Crafting Impactful Library Stories with Data."  Salisbury University librarians Emily Zerrenner and Erin Weber will be sharing their "building blocks" for success-no luck required! Registration links and more details to come!!

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Janina Siebert
NMRT Online Programs Committee Member
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At my academic library most of our data is collected via Springshare's LibInsights software. This is great because it gives us a standardized way to record and track data across departments. However, to actually visualize this data, I like to use Microsoft's Power BI software. One area in which I'd like to see more data being captured is that of the students' and faculty's perspectives on library programming and services. I'm looking forward to learning more about collecting and sharing data to tell our "library story" at the webinar!

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Melissa Herzberg
Head of Information Services & Creative Media
University of Alabama
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Original Message:
Sent: Mar 11, 2026 03:53 PM
From: Janina Siebert
Subject: March NMRT Discussion: Is it Luck or is it Good Data Story Telling?

Happy March NMRT Members!

Each month, the NMRT Online Programs Committee shares a discussion topic to help our members connect in meaningful and fun ways. 

As the saying goes, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." In the library world, that "preparation" is often the data we collect (or miss out on collecting!) every day. But when you successfully advocate for a new project, a new hire, a budget increase, or a new collection, was it just the "luck of the Irish"-or was it the way you told the story? 

We are often told to "collect stats," but we aren't always taught how to turn those numbers into a narrative that moves stakeholders. This month, we want to hear how you or your mentors are moving beyond the spreadsheet. 

Let's swap notes! We invite you to share any or all of the following:

• Have you used a specific data point to successfully advocate for a change or support?

• What are you using to track or visualize your impact? (Are you a Canva wizard? An Excel enthusiast? Or do you prefer physical data like "data walls"?)

• What is the one thing you wish you could prove with data but aren't sure how to capture?

Whatever type of library you hail from and role you serve, your data has a story to tell. Let's help each other find out how to use strategy to sway Lady Luck our way!

More Resources & Save the Date!

• Check out Kate McDowell's Critical Data Storytelling for Libraries for a deep look at crafting ethical, impactful narratives for library advocacy.
• Save the date and plan to join NMRT's Online Programs Committee on Thursday, April 16th at 2:00 PM CST for our NMRT spring webinar: "Crafting Impactful Library Stories with Data."  Salisbury University librarians Emily Zerrenner and Erin Weber will be sharing their "building blocks" for success-no luck required! Registration links and more details to come!!

------------------------------
Janina Siebert
NMRT Online Programs Committee Member
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